Indian troops retaliate as Pak violates ceasefire in Poonch, Rajouri

Our troops are responding to the firing appropriately and befittingly, an army official said

Pakistan rangers on Monday violated ceasefire yet again, by indulging in firing and shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in the twin frontier districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to media reports, army officials said the Pakistani troops indulged in unprovoked ceasefire violation from 0900 hours in the Balakot sector using 120 mm and 82 mm mortars, automatic and small arms.

In retaliation, army official said, our troops are responding to the firing appropriately and befittingly.

Pakistani Army fired and shelled on the forward posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Mendham sector of Poonch district. They also violated ceasefire in several areas of Rajouri district this afternoon, the officer said.

There was firing and shelling of mortar bombs in Mankot and Balakote areas along the LoC. A lull had prevailed along the International Border (IB) since 2100 hours after ceasefire violations by Pakistani rangers yesterday.

Media report added that the Pakistani forces pounded BSF posts and civilian areas using small arms and mortars shells in continuous ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts, prompting BSF to retaliate.

On Friday, a girl was also injured when Pakistani troops the ceasefire violations with firing and mortar shelling on Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC and international border in Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts.

A defence spokesperson had said the BSF and Army have responded “appropriately and befittingly”. “There was unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army in Sunderbani, Pallanwala and Nowshera sectors of Rajouri and Jammu districts today,” the spokesperson had said.

There have been more that 60 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC and IB in the state since surgical strikes against terror launch pads by the Indian Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Eleven people, including 3 civilians, and 8 security personnel were killed and over 40 people, mostly civilians, were injured in the incidents.